The University of Manchester, Middle East Centre
Graduation Celebration
21st November 2019
The University of Manchester held its seventh MBA graduation ceremony in the Middle East
The University of Manchester Middle East Centre is the gateway to the region for the University’s academic programmes, building on the success of Alliance Manchester Business School, which was the first of the university’s schools to offer programmes in the region.
The University reached its highest-ever position in the QS World University Rankings 2019, which now lists Manchester as the world’s 27th best university, and among the very top global institutions. In addition to the global ranking, QS university league tables also position the University at 6th in the UK and 8th in Europe, and part of the elite group of research-driven institutions.
The University of Manchester Middle East Centre (formerly known as Manchester Business School) opened with its flagship MBA course at Dubai Knowledge Park in 2006. Today, the Middle East Centre has supported over 2,600 and graduated over 1,700 students, with a regional community of around 2,500 alumni and actively works to create professional networking opportunities to help enrich the wider business community. It is the largest and fastest growing centre in The University of Manchester international network, with the most diverse community of students and alumni.
The University of Manchester Middle East Centre was the winner of the ‘Best MBA Program’ award for its Alliance Manchester Business School Global Part-time MBA at the inaugural Forbes Middle East Higher Education Awards 2019.
The Middle East Centre in Dubai enjoys all the benefits of a strategic location at the hub of the region in this unique city and emirate, providing the attractive convenience of workshops in Dubai, and with the support of a dedicated team of student support advisors, programme counsellors, careers services and administrators.
In the Middle East, the University has managed a flexible portfolio of learning programmes to complement and supplement the part-time MBA. The programme portfolio is reviewed regularly and the university is committed to creating access to world-class blended learning opportunities designed to meet the needs of working professionals.
Social responsibility is one of the University’s three pillars (along with teaching and research). The Middle East Centre supports the wider community in Dubai with its links to SOS Children’s Villages and Dubai Cares. The University’s Middle East Centre also creates public access to learning and networking opportunities through the guest speaker series offering free public seminars led by visiting faculty, in partnership with host venues across the region.
The University of Manchester Middle East Centre is pleased to host its 7th graduation in 2019. This year’s graduation has taken a new and different form and will be presented as a celebration for all the Middle East graduates, their families and friends. This year 180 MBA students from the Middle East Centre graduated, representing 39 nationalities among the 100 nationalities of our student & alumni community and living in 13 countries across the region. Of this graduating cohort, over 85% students have graduated either with a Distinction or Merit, supporting our consistent view that the quality of our students is truly exceptional. Around 20% of the graduating group is female and, even within a high performing cohort, our female students stand out as top achievers.
Graduation is a moment of celebration and the start of a new phase of graduates’ career and life - and a new relationship with the Middle East Centre team and The University of Manchester, as valued alumni.
www.manchester.ac.ae
It is my great pleasure to congratulate all our new Manchester MBA graduates and to mark your achievement together at this celebration. We are sharing this special moment in the inspiring presence of Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge & Human Development Authority, and Professor Fiona Devine CBE FAcSS FRSA, Dean of Alliance Manchester Business School, for whose support we are very grateful.
Read MoreIt is my great pleasure to congratulate all our new Manchester MBA graduates and to mark your achievement together at this celebration. We are sharing this special moment in the inspiring presence of Dr. Abdulla Al Karam, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Director General of the Knowledge & Human Development Authority, and Professor Fiona Devine CBE FAcSS FRSA, Dean of Alliance Manchester Business School, for whose support we are very grateful.
Let’s celebrate your success - you have all reached the standards of a Manchester MBA through a demanding and rigorous programme. As we all know, this is no easy option and so we all understand and truly appreciate your achievement.
The global economy and business continues to change rapidly, as society shifts and digital advancement makes even deeper impacts on all our daily and working lives – many industries are transforming dramatically and new ones being created. Each one of you has proved yourself to be a highly capable professional able to manage the competing demands of life, work and study. We are very confident that you will use your new knowledge, tools, skills, confidence and network to continue to build rewarding and fulfilling careers, and contribute to your own professional and social communities - as well as the growing alumni community here in the region.
Personally, one of the great pleasures of graduation is that as your cohort of 180 new graduates from the Middle East marks the successful conclusion of its MBA journey, I can immediately welcome you as alumni.
This is a professional community and network that continues to grow and in 2019 alone we welcomed over 170 talented new students to our regional community of current students, and 2,500 alumni - now comprising over 100 nationalities.
Since we launched the Middle East Centre in 2006, we have supported over 2,600 MBA students and graduated almost 1,700; all our students and alumni have played a central role in the success of the University, Alliance Manchester Business School, and the centre in Dubai.
This year, we have many reasons to celebrate with highlights including the Forbes Middle East ‘Best MBA Program 2019’, and a 5-star rating from the Dubai Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
New collaborations include Dubai Police, Dubai Technology Partners, and Kincentric, adding to the growing and diverse list of leading organisations with which we enjoy active collaborations across the region, such as ACCA, IMA, EMIR, Dubai SME, The Economist, and Forbes Middle East; and leading corporates including GM, General Electric, and EITC.
We are now looking forward to the year ahead, as the University and Alliance Manchester Business School continue to grow and develop in one of the most vibrant regions of the world and with the added excitement of Expo2020. Our dynamic programme portfolio will continue to expand and we have a pipeline of new programmes from various schools in the University.
On behalf of the entire Middle East Centre team, I would like to congratulate all our new graduates. It has been our privilege to support your MBA journey and we wish you every success in your future careers.
Randa Bessiso
Middle East Director
The University of Manchester
On behalf of The University of Manchester and Alliance Manchester Business School, it is my pleasure to congratulate all our new MBA graduates from the Middle East on your outstanding achievement.
Graduation is one of the most enjoyable parts of my role and sharing the celebrations with graduates and families, one of the great pleasures and privileges of my working life. The 2019 MBA Graduation Celebration for the Middle East is certainly a special moment and another cause for celebration across the University.
Read MoreOn behalf of The University of Manchester and Alliance Manchester Business School, it is my pleasure to congratulate all our new MBA graduates from the Middle East on your outstanding achievement.
Graduation is one of the most enjoyable parts of my role and sharing the celebrations with graduates and families, one of the great pleasures and privileges of my working life. The 2019 MBA Graduation Celebration for the Middle East is certainly a special moment and another cause for celebration across the University.
I am pleased to say that The University of Manchester continues to confirm its growing status as one of the world’s top universities, with a focus on the quality of teaching, research and social responsibility. The University reached its highest-ever position in the QS World University Rankings 2019, which now lists Manchester as the world’s 27th best university.
In the Middle East, The University of Manchester was delighted to be awarded a 5-star rating from the Knowledge & Human Development Authority in its inaugural classification of Higher Education institutions. Forbes Middle East recognised the Manchester Global part-time MBA with the ‘Best MBA Programme’ award in 2019. Our thanks to every member of the regional team for all their dedication and to Middle East Director Randa Bessiso for her leadership.
The Global part-time MBA continues to be our flagship programme in the region. As you now know, the Manchester MBA is a rigorous and demanding programme and the Middle East is notable for the quality and diversity of students we attract, with every new cohort enriching the experience for the benefit of the entire student and alumni community.
I am sure you will agree that you are now better prepared to pursue your career and with the confidence and professional network to achieve your goals.
The Manchester MBA says a great deal about a person but is no automatic passport to success, achievement or fulfilment; these still have to be earned.
Today more than ever, there are new responsibilities for business and businesspeople as we all seek to create a more sustainable future and share the responsibility to make a real difference in the workplace and in our communities.
To all our new graduates, this is the beginning of a new chapter of your lives, careers, and a new relationship with the University as part of our alumni community, wherever you choose to make your lives and careers.
You have reached the demanding standards required of a Manchester MBA and I wish you every continued success.
Congratulations to you all.
Professor Fiona Devine OBE FAcSS FRSA
Dean of Alliance Manchester Business School
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